what ballerinas dream . . .

click-o-licious

let's just keep it a mystery . . .

what's the story?

art - why we . . .

In this world of both happiness and angst - it is a sweet delight that we will soon see the 100th apple painting of janettmarie.  Just like a little wonder woman she has taken a single subject and painted it in so many delicious hues and ways.

Janettmarie:  do you remember when and why you chose to paint 100 apples?  How do you feel upon completing this task?  It is certainly inspiring to see one set a goal that brings delight to many.

So now the question is - what will you do after painting 100 apples?  Will you paint 100 more?  I'm sure that you have - or will invent -many new ways to portray this - many colored - lip smakin' - doctor keepin' away snack. 

And so finally I ponder - it's been 100 - will JM finally name one of her little apple paintings after me?  Will she loan me some money from her apple painting sales?  Will she give me a percent of her salary when they make a movie with - oh I don't know - julia roberts as janettemarie - angelique jolie as martine - jennifer lopez as bonnie heather - what's her name from that movie 'Speed' as catherine - halle berry as carol blackburn - chuck berry as myra anderson . . . well . . . will she?

no one EYE know . . .

When you don't know how to do something you have to start somewhere . . .

bonnie paint your pretty pansies and put them in the pot . . .

Bonnie paint your pretty pansies and put them in the pot

by myra anderson

Congratulations to Bonnie Heather who was able to retire and will have the opportunity to cultivate her love of art!  She said that perhaps her first series with be 12 paintings of pansies.  When it comes to flowers - she also paints them beautifully!  In this drawing I tried to add pansies but they just did not look right.  I thought I had better leave the flowers to the experts!

Also, I added the blue sky and the green grass using a photoshop type program.

hips

at the end of the day I want a cheeseburger

by myra anderson

This is sketch #5 of my dance series.  In this particular sketch I wanted to draw a modest pair of hips in a leotard - cause that's just how I roll.   I felt that the ballerina was too skinny.  But, try as I might I could not add more weight to the drawing.  As per usual this made me think about food.  I can go many days eating a delicious salad - I make mine with lettuce, tomato, walnuts, cheese, diced chicken, avocado, cranberry-raisins and garlic croutons - sprinkled with garlic powder and pepper -  and topped with bacon ranch salad dressing.  Then after so many days I just want a cheeseburger.  With bacon.  And fries.  And a strawberry shake.   Hips . . .

pink . . . think . . .

pink! think!

by myra anderson

This is sketch #4 of my series 'depending on who you ask - 100 either great - or poorly drawn - sketches of the ballet'. What's happening with the watercolors you say?  Well, I ran out of the paper that I like and they no longer carry it (or anything that compares to it) at my local supply store.  Hope to be back on track with that soon!

blue . . . shoe . . .

blue . . . shoe . . .

by myra anderson

This is charcoal on blue pastel paper.  It's sketch #3 of my dance series.  For some reason I thought that it would be fun to smear it a little and add those crazy lines.  Yup!!

 more from the article 'what is art'

Another beautiful photo from Rick Elkins.  I think that this is like a beautiful 'modern day' Degas.  Yet another reason I love the art of the ballet.  I often wonder what makes people love their particular genre.  There is actually an artist who paints 'a mule' a day . . . . . . . .

say what! part 2

#1 The Girl With the Charcoal Hair

by myra anderson

Part 2 Many modern day painters of the ballet say that their goal is not to copy Degas but to 'bring Degas to the next level'.  This is something that I personally think is reflected in many of John Asaro's paintings of the ballet.  I think that if Degas were here today,  he too would impart a beautiful modern day look to a favorite subject.

 John Asaro

Also, I mentioned that I would have to answer the unspoken challenge of John Asaro (see previous post).  Since he is doing 100 paintings of the dance - I will do "Depending on who you ask - 100 either great or poorly drawn sketches - of the ballet."

Finally here is a quote from the blog 'Dear Artist'.  She encouraged me in this first sketch to try and draw exactly what I wanted to communicate -  in this case -a girl with charcoal hair.

a full set of lips and a pizza face . . .

I SAID A PIECE OF FACE!  In order to draw faces I decided that I am going to study my own face in a mirror.  This is how I look when I close my eyes and draw myself . . . well, I got the hair right . . .  coming next - reason #9 why I should open those watercolors and read that watercolor book!

ballerina sketch and pizza face . . .

NO I SAID A PIECE OF FACE . . . Yesterday I put on my best leotard and tulle skirt so that I could meditate on how to bring my drawings of the ballet up to the next level.   Also, this is as far as I wanted to go on this drawing of a face.  I 'checked it before I wrecked it'.  Next time I will definitely go for it . . . maybe . . .

dreaming of . . .

one two cha cha cha

one day we'll look back at some of these drawing and laugh . . .
three four cha cha cha . . .

who nose? what fun!

myra anderson 'not so nosey'

If you look back a few months ago, I wanted to learn how to draw faces.  As you can see I've done a few side views  but yesterday I felt that it was time to go to the next level - the front view.   After I did the ballerina with the eyes (closed) and the mouth - there was no room for the nose.  Just wait - the next pose - there will be nose!   You - being such great artists - may wonder - what takes me so long?  Well . . . I'm slow . . . and filled with fear.  My name should be Myra SlowFear.

Also, I saw the second painting on the web.  If you know the artist let me know.  When I looked at the mixed media list I thought 'what fun!'  'Gotta get me a bunch of stuff!'  'What is powdered pigment?'  'Time to google mixed media!' Myra SlowFear signing off for now.

a ballerina sketch . . .

a ballerina sketch

with enough done

to make you want to come

and dance

with me?

blue bodice and . . .

blue bodice by myra anderson

Carol Blackburn In Her Studio

Thanks for the tip Carol!

You look marvelous!

back to work . . .

ballerina about to take the stage #1

myra anderson

Here is an idea that I wanted to explore - just showing this much of a ballerina about to take the stage.  Also, I saw something very interesting and inspiring today - something that inspires me to try to bring my ballerinas up to the next level.  Will post next . . .

'oh that little janettmarie!'

I just love janettmarie's (the princess of apples) drawing of me (the princess of art) entitled 'homage to myra'!  Sooo cute!  And how appropriate!  It's right on time for the 'winter sketching season'.  Over the next month or so I was going to try to draw 5 small sketches per session when I am in my studio.  That's what I did yesterday after cleaning the house, walking the dog and cooking Harvey a delicious sandwich for dinner.  I am going to time it again when I have the chance to be in my studio - but I think the 5 sketches took me an hour - and then I did a 9x12 watercolor.  I am going to explore some of my other favorite subjects such as a series I call 'coffee with Bonnie', women reading, women looking at the ocean, and van gogh's women of the field.  I will post one of them tomorrow.  JM is going to sketch a ballerina, Bonnie is going to sketch a . . . Carol is going to sketch a . . . you are going to sketch a . . .

sketch of the day . . .

at the degas museum

This is how I dress when I go to the 'degas museum'.

sketch of the day . . .

what should we have for breakfast?  shredded wheat with bananas, walnuts and cranberry raisins or pizza and coffee?